Water ski safety cap

ABSTRACT

A safety cap for water skiers comprises a crown portion of limited arcuate span constructed of a brightly colored flexible material which is secured to the head of a water skier by forward and rear elastic bands which extend from the crown portion and intersect at points spaced below the side edges of the crown portion to define ear openings. The rear elastic band extends forwardly from the intersection to form a chin strap which rigidly secures the cap to the head of the wearer to avoid translatory displacement or loss of the hat as a result of a spill. The bright color can easily be seen by motor boat operators.

United States Patent Berlinski et al.

{54] WATER SKI SAFETY CAP [72] Inventors: Anton Berlinski; Ruth R. Berlinski,

both of 1553 S. 26 St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53204 [22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 88,793

[52] US. Cl ..2/2, 2/3 R, 2/68, 2/ 195 [51] Int. Cl. ..A4ld 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..2/198, 174, 195, 68, 3 R, 2; 116/114; 128/164; 132/49, 46, 31

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,775 5/1928 Latz ..132/31 1 Aug. 29, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 269 6/1899 Austria ..2/174 445,585 11/1912 France ..2/195 Primary ExaminerJordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeorge I-I. Krizmanich Attomey-Wheeler, House & Wheeler [57] ABSTRACT A safety cap for water skiers comprises a crown portion of limited arcuate span constructed of a brightly colored flexible material which is secured to the head of a water skier by forward and rear elastic bands which extend from the crown portion and intersect at points spaced below the side edges of the crown portion to define ear openings. The rear elastic band extends forwardly from the intersection to form a chin strap which rigidly secures the cap to the head of the wearer to avoid translatory displacement or loss of the hat as a result of a spill. The bright color can easily be seen by motor boat operators.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing WATER sxr SAFETY CAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the increase in popularity of water sports and water skiing, many injuries have occurred to water skiers who have been swimming or floating in the water subsequent to a spill and are struck by either the tow boat or other boats. It is difficult for boat operators to see a swimmer when only the swimmers head is visible above the surface of the water and is even more difficult in rough water caused by winds or the wake of other boats.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a water skier safety cap which utilizes a flexible, comfortable crown portion preferably bright orange in color to alert motor boat operators. The cap is rigidly secured to the head of the wearer by forward and rear elastic bands which are secured to the crown portion and form a juncture at points spaced from the side edges of the crown portion. The bands and the side edges cooperate to form ear openings. In use, the ears serve as interlocks to rigidly anchor the cap so that the cap is not dislodged or lost when the water skier takes a spill. The ear openings also expose the ears so that the water skier can communicate with the tow boat and also hear approaching motor boats. It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive comfortable safety cap which is securely held in place on the wearers head by intersecting elastic bands.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cap which comfortably fits most head sizes and is a bright color to alert motor boat operators.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the water ski safety cap of the invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a developed view of the safety cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention .which may be embodied in other specific structures.

The safety cap includes a crown portion 12 constructed of a comfortable soft and flexible material or fabric such as cotton or nylon with a high tear strength and desirably of a bright color such as orange or yellow. The crown portion 12 can be constructed of two sections 14 and 16 which are joined by a center seam 18. The forward margin 20 of the crown portion 12 desirably terminates at a point near the hair line or at th earwhenth ca isi s.

To prevent fire gap from being lost when the water skier takes a spill, the safety cap of the invention includes a forward elastic band 28 which is stitched to the forward margin 20 of the cap. The forward elastic band 28 has band portions 30 and 32 which extend past the side edges 24 and 26 to intersect with portions 34 and 36 of a rear elastic band 38 which is stitched or otherwise secured to the rear margin 22 of the crown portion 12. The junctures 39 of the bands 28 and 38 are located intermediate the length of the side edges 24 and 26 and spaced a sufficient distance from the side edges 24 and 26 to form ear openings 40 which receive the ears of the wearer and form an interlock with the ears of the wearer to securely anchor the cap against translatory displacement.

The rear band 38 also has strap portions 42 and 44 which extend past the junctures 39 to provide a chin strap. Means are provided for detachably securing the strap portions 42 and 44 together. As disclosed, the means is in the form of hook 46 which is received in an eye or loop 47. One of the strap portions can be provided with length adjustment means.

What is claimed is:

l. A water safety cap for aquatic sportsmen comprising a bright colored flexible crown portion adapted to encapsulate the top of the head and having front and rear edges and side edges, means for securely retaining the crown portion to a wearers head, said means including a first continuous elastic band fixed to said front edge and forming the entire forward margin of said crown portion and a second continuous elastic band having a portion secured to said rear edge and lower portions free of said crown portion, said lower portions having free ends with means to connect the said second band in a continuous loop in use, said first and second bands having band portions extending downwardly from said side edges of said crown portion and intersecting to form band junctures spaced from said side edges, said band portions cooperating with said side edges to define ear openings, and said bands being in intersecting planes, said second band extending downwardly and forwardly from said rear edge to embrace the undersurface of a wearers chin with each band being uniformly stressed when the free ends are connected together by force vectors lying within each of said planes to firmly embrace the head and prevent translatory displacement of said crown portion upon immersion of a wearer in the water.

2. A safety cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crown portion is formed from two fabric sections joined by a central seam. 

1. A water safety cap for aquatic sportsmen comprising a bright colored flexible crown portion adapted to encapsulate the top of the head and having front and rear edges and side edges, means for securely retaining the crown portion to a wearer''s head, said means including a first continuous elastic band fixed to said front edge and forming the entire forward margin of said crown portion and a second continuous elastic band having a portion secured to said rear edge and lower portions free of said crown portion, said lower portions having free ends with means to connect the said second band in a continuous loop in use, said first and second bands having band portions extending downwardly from said side edges of said crown portion and intersecting to form band junctures spaced from said side edges, said band portions cooperating with said side edges to define ear openings, and said bands being in intersecting planes, said second band extending downwardly and forwardly from said rear edge to embrace the undersurface of a wearer''s chin with each band being uniformly stressed when the free ends are connected together by force vectors lying within each of said planes to firmly embrace the head and prevent translatory displacement of said crown portion upon immersion of a wearer in the water.
 2. A safety cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crown portion is formed from two fabric sections joined by a central seam. 